The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-04-23
MuRRfLL'S GAYS.

Nashville World.

ton, Tenn, for the southwestern
portion of this county for few
days bird and squirrel hunt. While
following a rocky branch, known
as the Gin branch, we came to where
it skirted the margin of a high hill.
Our setter Charley made dash at
rabbit and Charley disappeared
in the hill. The entrance was what
we supposed to be a crevice in the
rocks; in a moment the bats came
pouring out by the hundreds. The
weather being chilly, they fell to
the ground in stupor as soon as
the air struck them. Their slumbers
had been disturbed by the dog.
We were enjoying the fun when.
to our astonishment, several large
horn owls come Topping out-one
gave a dismal hoot as though he
had not seen daylight in years, or
wished to irighten us away. Be
coming uneasy for tear our dog
could not return, Mr.. Lee went to
the entrance of the cave. Taking a
pole and probing some six feet, he
found it made an abrupt angle to
the right the opening was barely
sufficient for a common-slzed man
to enter. He groped his way until
it became so dark that he returned
and said it opened out into what he
believed to be large hall, and that
he could hear Charley running
around and whining, as though he
was lost and could not find his
way out. We sent to neighbor-
ing house and procured a lantern,
determined to rescue Charley at all
hazards. With lantern in hand we
both entered, compelled to crawl
on both hands for some distance
before we could walk erect. The
entrance turned first to the right,
then to the left, in a zigzag form.
Finally we met Charley, and his
bark. as it echoed and re-echoed, as
tonished us to such an extent that
we raised our lantern over our
heads. which threw bright light
around.
We were in a large room, ceiled
on all sides and overhead with rude
clapboards. Before us sat a large
table with a mutilated pack of cards
in the center; heavy wooden chairs
around the table; couple of large
and rough shop-made knives on
one corner. AS soon as we could
collect our senses and calm our
staggered brain, we found we were
in a secret cave that had once been
occupied by band of outlaws, but
who, or when, was the question.
In surveying the room, which was
1Sx1S, we found in one corner a
black something. Holding the light
close. our blood was chilled. 1t
was large black man, his skin
and flesh as dry as those who, In
ancient days, were given passage
over Charon. a large and rough
made chain was locked around his
ankle and fastened to a staple IN
the floor. In the opposite corner
Law the dried frames of two huge
bloodhounds; in an old heavy
wooden box was found two old
fashioned horsepistols with flint
lock: they had undoubtedly done
service in the revolution; there
were also several pairs of handouts
We began to think that we were
in the region of the damned
When looking on the rough wal
there we saw the Handwriting
It was "John A. Murrell, 1873.
We were in the great outlaws den
we could then see that the mar
chained had been stolen by the ole
bandit-brought there and chained
until he could bring him South ano
sell him. The presumption is tha
when the cave was deserted he was
alive: the doom was sure; bu
what agony he MISUNDERSTANDING
+ and alone-his face, like Millions
devil, "grinned horribly ghastl,
smile" The bloodhounds had beer
kept for the purpose of recapturins
any slave that might escape. Al
we we're about making our exit ou
companion Lee called our atten
ton to another object. We turned
around and he was pale, and tn
lantern trembled in his hand; h
: pointed under the table, and ther
! Law the form and dried frame o
! another human being. Examining
; close it proved to be that of fe
; male. She, too. was chained. Sh
had died a horrible death-starve'
!: to death. Her long, yellow hal
|, , still clung to the dry skin on he
, head; her lips were parted so as t
! + disclose a set of pearly teeth. Ho'
! came she in robbers den! Sh
could not have been a victim t
! cupid's dart. If so, why chain her
: ! She had been kidnapped and he'll
for ransom.
= John A. Murrell was born i
! Morgan county, Tenn. When DO
he was considered spry and prom
Using lad. After a few love scrape
L he became reckless and wandere